Hockey Day in Canada: Jan. 30 in STRATFORD!

I'm not even a hockey fan and I'm so freakin' excited about Hockey Day in Canada tomorrow, right here in beautiful snow-covered Stratford!

The celebration kicked off Wednesday and there have been so many fantastic things happening around the city to hail the Tim Hortons-sponsored event, including NHL alumni games and lunches, CBC radio broadcasts, school events - even a Randy Bachman concert at the Festival Theatre hosted by Ron MacLean.

Last night, Peter Mansbridge hosted The National on an illuminated Avon River, as cheerful skaters glided through the background. In fact, the frozen river has turned into a real-life Canadiana patchwork quilt with half a dozen ice rinks available for one and all to enjoy.

Wendel Clark was at Bentley's on Thursday for a book signing, the Stanley Cup visited the Stratford General Hospital and nursing homes, and there are various Hockey Hall of Fame art and trophy exhibits at the Optimist Club Hall.

Let me catch my breath...

There's a hockey homecoming dance tonight and my neighbour from down the road, Peter Mansbridge (he has no idea who I am), is back hosting The National again tonight.

Tomorrow is the main event, with even more excitement whirling around the city. I feel like I'm living in a beer commercial right now (funny how Canadian pride is synonymous with beer commercials), as I'm quite tempted to run down the street with my arms in the air screaming, "I AM CANADIAN" just to release some Canuck brouhaha.

I'm so proud of our little city of 30,000. I knew the summers were always rocking with tourists, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, not to mention Savour Stratford, Stratford Summer Music, Art in the Park and the Rotary Dragonboat Festival - heck, we're even hosting Canada 3.0 conferences so Canada can lead a global digital media revolution. And now our winters are jamming too.

Back to tomorrow - CBC will be broadcasting from the William Allman Arena throughout the day (where Wayne Gretzky scored his very first goal), there will be hockey clinics, a jamboree, a ball hockey tournament, "Proud to be a Hockey Mom" storytelling and photo ops with the Stanley Cup.

I'm volunteering at the Slow Food Perth County tent in the Kiwanis Centre parking lot where we're serving up warm and sumptuous "good, clean, fair" local food, including smoked and roasted pork on a bun with homemade baked beans and hot Wellesley apple cider. Slow Food approached the Chefs of Stratford with a challenge to cook up the best condiment so don't forget to vote.

Did I mention Don Cherry's coming to town?

The 10th broadcast of Hockey Day In Canada will be hosted by Ron MacLean (Don will deliver the spice) from the Allman Arena beginning at noon ET, and in addition to segments, there will be three all-Canadian NHL matchups, with Montreal at Ottawa kicking things off at 2 p.m. ET, followed by Saturday night games featuring Vancouver at Toronto and Edmonton at Calgary.

Yes, it's going to be friggin' cold, but we are Canadian and our pride (and tuques!) will keep us warm. So come on out to Hockey Day in Canada and bring your enthusiasm and love of the game.

Maybe I do like hockey after all?

The good ol' hockey game, it's the best game you can name...